The New Blockhouses. “- No more rent to pay, Monsieur Vautour... and we are no longer afraid of the janitor..... in our chalets we are all Swiss,” plate 332 from Actualités 1856

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, "The New Blockhouses," sometime in the 19th century. Lithography is a printmaking process that relies on the chemical repulsion between oil and water. The artist draws on a stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon, then applies water. The ink adheres only to the greasy areas, allowing the image to be printed. Daumier masterfully exploits the lithographic medium to capture a scene of social commentary. Look at the textures he creates through hatching and cross-hatching, lending depth and character to the figures and their dwellings. The scene depicts a landlord being taunted by tenants in their newly constructed shacks. The image speaks volumes about the social landscape of the time. The shacks themselves, quickly and cheaply erected, represent a form of resistance against the oppressive forces of landlords and rent. The amount of labor and ingenuity poured into these makeshift homes underscores the tenants' determination to claim their own space. Daumier elevates the everyday struggles of ordinary people, demonstrating that even the most humble materials can become powerful symbols of social commentary.